Senior Quality and Process Engineer

Shift5 is the observability platform for onboard operational technology (OT). We’re a rapidly growing scale-up that specializes in cybersecurity, predictive maintenance, and compliance for operational technology (OT) systems across all defense vehicles and commercial aviation. We are a collaborative, passionate, and driven team of dynamic, multidisciplinary experts and we’re focused on helping our customers' fleets run smarter and safer by accessing and democratizing the volumes of onboard OT data generated by commercial and defense fleets. Come join us.

Shift5 is seeking an experienced Senior Quality & Process Engineer to join our team. In this role, you will be responsible for tracking product quality, implementing process improvements, designing and maintaining process controls, evaluating production defects, and serving as the key owner of the quality management system. You will balance disciplined quality assurance with practical business execution, helping the organization improve consistency, reduce risk, and scale effectively. Moving fluidly between enterprise-level process governance and detailed technical work, you'll troubleshoot production non-conformances alongside test engineers, analyze failure data to uncover systemic reliability patterns, and drive continuous improvement across our hardware and software operations.

• QMS Ownership & Audits: Serve as the maintainer and primary company representative for the AS9100/ISO9000 Quality Management System, leading internal process/compliance audits, surveillance, and recertification activities.
• Non-Conformance & CAPA Management: Triage, disposition, and ensure timely closure of non-conformances (NC); lead Corrective and Preventive Action (CAPA) initiatives to permanently resolve identified failure modes.
• Yield Analysis & Quality Metrics: Track, aggregate, and analyze line yield data, RMAs, and test failures to report yield trends, failure metrics, and QMS audit readiness to cross-functional leadership.
• Inspection & Quality Controls: Establish inspection criteria, acceptance standards, and quality checkpoints; support First Article Inspections (FAI), in-process inspections, final acceptance, and receiving inspection.
• Engineering & Production Partnership: Partner with Hardware, Software, and Test Engineering teams to support defect tracking, design transfer, and configuration control, driving Design for Manufacturability/Testability (DFM/DFT) feedback loops.
• Supply Chain & Vendor Quality: Partner with Supply Chain to review supplier certifications, support supplier qualifications, conduct root cause investigations for non-conforming components, and manage Supplier Corrective Action Requests (SCARs).
• Contract & Compliance Review: Review contracts, statements of work, and customer requirements for quality obligations while ensuring company personnel are equipped with appropriate procedures and training.

• Systemic Quality Governance: You maintain a fully compliant, continuously improving AS9100 QMS that successfully passes surveillance and recertification audits with broad cross-functional buy-in.
• Defect Reduction & High First-Pass Yield: You uncover systemic reliability patterns, permanently resolve root causes through effective CAPA, and measurably increase first-pass yield on the production line.
• Seamless Engineering & Supply Chain Integration: You establish tight feedback loops between Engineering, Production, and Suppliers, ensuring hardware and software deliverables reliably meet strict release and acceptance standards.
• Balanced Operational Scale: You drive quality control, consistency, and compliance without creating unnecessary bureaucracy, maintaining a practical and fast-paced "do-er" mentality.

Required:

• Experience: 3-5 years of experience in quality-related engineering, quality management, or manufacturing quality roles.
• QMS Management: Direct experience managing an ISO9000/AS9100 system and certification, including handling non-conformances, corrective actions, and root cause analysis.
• Hardware & Software Testing: Experience working in the manufacturing and testing of electronic assemblies containing both hardware and software components; familiarity with IPC and J-Standard specs.
• Process Improvement & Measurement: Demonstrated experience implementing process improvement tools in a deadline-driven environment and designing experiments to measure quality control.
• Influence & Communication: Strong written and oral communication skills with a proven ability to influence process owners and functional leaders without direct operational authority.
• Security & Citizenship: U.S. Citizenship required; ability to obtain or hold a U.S. Government Security Clearance.

Preferred:

• Certifications: AS9100 Internal or Lead Auditor certification; Lean Six Sigma Green Belt or Black Belt.
• Regulated Industry Experience: Background in aerospace, defense, aviation, transportation, or other highly regulated industries; familiarity with DO-254 & DO-178.
• Aerospace Standards & Docs: Familiarity with AS9102, AS9145, product lifecycle management (PLM), configuration management, and document-control systems.
• Technical Hardware Aptitude: Ability to read schematics, wire harness drawings, work instructions, and BOMs, with hands-on experience using basic test equipment.

• Base Salary: $148,000 - $165,000

• Bonus program and equity in a fast-growing startup

• Competitive medical, dental, and vision coverage for employees and their families

• Health Savings Account with annual employer contributions

• Employer-paid Life and Disability Insurance 

• Uncapped paid time off policy 

• Flexible work & remote work policy 

• Tax-deferred public transit benefits with Metro SmartBenefits (DC/MD/VA)  

We are committed to building an inclusive culture of belonging that embraces the diversity of our people and represents the communities in which we work and the customers we serve. We know the happiest and highest performing teams include people with diverse perspectives and ways of solving problems. We strive to attract and retain talent from all backgrounds and create workplaces where everyone feels empowered to bring their full, authentic selves to work.   

Shift5 is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sexual orientation, gender identify, national origin, disability, age, marital status, ancestry, projected veteran status, or any other protected group or class.